News Release

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Family Dispute Leads to Homicide NR11259cj

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department Mission Area homicide detectives are asking for the public’s help in providing any information about a family dispute that lead to the murder of 62-year-old Francisco Martinez of Sylmar.

On Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at about 8:15 p.m., LAPD Mission Area police officers responded to an assault call in the 13200 block of Bradley Avenue. When the officers arrived they saw an unresponsive man pinned underneath a sport utility vehicle (SUV). They also saw another man on the ground suffering from trauma. LAFD rescue personnel responded and pronounced the pinned man dead at the scene. The other man was taken to a local hospital and is in serious but stable condition. Upon the officers’ initial investigation, the driver of the SUV was taken into custody.

According to detectives, the driver of the SUV, 26-year-old Luis Martinez and son of Francisco, was involved in a dispute with the second victim, his brother, earlier in the day. Later in the evening, Luis was in his car when he saw his brother walking on the sidewalk. The suspect drove his car onto the sidewalk and ran over his brother and then his father. The suspect was arrested and booked for murder.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call LAPD Mission Homicide Detectives Acero or Fruend at 818-838-9810. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.